Smarter. More sustainable. More efficient. How we tackle waste.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Back to storiesaste. It may not be the most glamorous subject, but it is certainly an important one. From cultivation to packaging and residual materials, there are moments where waste – and inefficiency – can creep in. And let’s be honest: completely eliminating waste is not realistic. But that doesn’t mean we simply accept it. At Marginpar, we continuously seek ways to work smarter, more efficiently, and, above all, more sustainably. That means less waste, more reuse, and better recycling solutions.
Back to basics
Sustainability is embedded in our company culture. We work according to Hamuka, our guiding philosophy inspired by the Japanese Kaizen principle: a commitment to continuous improvement, waste minimisation, and process optimisation. Our motto? No muda – meaning no waste.
But our approach goes beyond physical materials such as plastic or residual waste. It’s also about using time, energy, and talent wisely.
To bring this philosophy to life, we apply the 5S methodology – a structured system that tackles inefficiency at its root. The five steps are:
1. Sort – Identify what is needed and what is not.
2. Straighten – A place for everything, and everything in its place.
3. Shine – Keep the workplace clean and well-maintained to prevent damage and waste.
4. Standardise – Document routine procedures to avoid rework and unnecessary waste.
5. Sustain – Conduct regular audits and checks to uphold high standards.
This framework allows us not only to reduce waste, but to manage it in a smarter, more strategic way.
Less waste. More reuse.
At Marginpar, we follow the three pillars of responsible waste management: reduce, reuse, and recycle. But what does that actually look like in practice? For example:
Reduce
• We use worm tea as a natural fertiliser, cutting down on the need for synthetic alternatives.
• Our solar panels reduce our need for electricity from the grid.
Reuse
• Old drip irrigation lines are reused for flower support structures.
• Materials that appear redundant during the first 5S step (sorting) are placed in ‘red tag areas’. Items that remain unused are later made available to our team – who give them a second life, for instance in home vegetable gardens.
Recycle
• Plastic waste is transformed into new products. Broken buckets, for example, are recycled into plastic chairs.
• Green waste is composted and returned to the soil, closing the loop and enriching cultivation.
Every drop counts: smarter water use
Water is essential in floriculture – and wasting it is not an option. That’s why we’ve developed constructed wetlands on our farms: natural filtration systems where plants purify waste water, allowing it to re-enter the cycle clean and safe.
In addition, we use Aqua-Check systems to precisely monitor irrigation. This ensures that water reaches the root zone efficiently – no more, no less.
In short: we make every drop count!
From farm to Aalsmeer: a full-circle approach
It’s not just on our farms where we focus on waste management. In Aalsmeer, where we unpack most of our flowers and prepare them for delivery to our customers, our waste is separately collected and picked up by certified companies for recycling.
A shared responsibility
At Marginpar, we don’t see waste reduction as a one-off project but as an ongoing process. We continue to innovate, improve, and take new steps forward. This is essential throughout the entire supply chain. Together, we make a difference.
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